Tourist Scams in Turkey & How to Avoid Them

Tourist Scams in Turkey & How to Avoid Them. As in any other city around the world also Istanbul has many common scams and usually tourists fall when they are not aware of them.

In this episode, we want to show you the most common scams in Istanbul, that way you can avoid them and enjoy your holidays much better.

FULL SHOE SHINE AND NIGHTCLUB SCAMS VIDEOS HERE:

Thank you so much for allowing us using your footage for this video! 💓

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:34 - Taxi scam
02:19 - Shoeshine scam
03:56 - Simit seller falling off
04:56 - Restaurant scam
06:51 - Friendly approach to take you to a shop
08:08 - Night club scam
10:40 - Fake police scam
12:58 - Perfume and Rose Sellers
14:21 - Ticket Scam
14:59 - Share your experiences
15:11 - Outro

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We truly hope this video helps you avoiding all of these scams going on in Istanbul. Remember some of these scams are very rare (especially fake police and restaurant scam) . We wanted to include them just for you to be aware. Don't get scared, scammers are everywhere in the world.

If you want to check out the full videos about the shoe shiner and night club scams, here are the links to these videos, real footage on how these scams develop.

We want to thank Hannah & Gordon’s World Tour and The Wild and Beyond YouTube channels for allowing us using their original footage in our video, thank you so much guys! 🙏

Don’t forget to check out their channels and subscribe 🤗



If you have any other scam that we couldn’t cover here, please share it in comments below, that way we can save others from these abusive people 🙏

📕 Check out our amazing itineraries and guides!
We have carefully created many itineraries not just in Istanbul but in many cities around Turkiye, organized useful information for you, including a list with plenty of hotels for all budgets in each city we mention, a list with more than 100 restaurants including one with vegan options, desserts, and much more! All the guides are LIVE, that means that they're updated daily and surely we’ll keep adding more and more! The new changes will automatically sync even after you get it WITHOUT an extra cost!
All you have to do is sign up for free and get the guide or itinerary you're interested in! 🎉

🗺️ Guided tours in Istanbul
Looking for a hassle-free way to book your city tours? Whether you're interested in historical landmarks, cultural experiences, or culinary delights, we've got you covered. Experienced guides will show you the best of what the city has to offer, all while providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

🛜 Do you want to have internet wherever you travel, including Turkey? Then take a look at the option of Aíralo's eSim cards! They are a great choice for those who will be traveling through different countries or regions and don't want to waste time finding local companies in the countries they visit. You buy your eSim online, and as soon as your flight lands at your new destination, you can have internet!

To get a 10% discount on your next eSims, click on the following link and enter the discount code BIT before completing your transaction.

[oxfordlondon]

I am Turkish. You are very true about scammers in Turkey. We have to share them what they are doing foreigners. It must be stopped

[wenshen]

Most of scams are for small amount of money, but leave a scar in the foreign visitor's heart. Too bad for the reputation of a country.

[roshanjdias]

also in some restaurants they show you one menu with lower prices. After you order they hide that menu and charge you almost triple the price and when you ask to show the menu they have one ready printed with three times the price you saw before and blame you for not reading the prices correctly. always click photos of the menu before ordering.

[katherinefisher]

Take a picture of the menu that you order from. This way you can cross reference especially if you need to call the police

[januszolewicz]

I and my son were being scamed last holiday by shoe polishers- Berry this is your the most important video. You keep other turist safe.Thank you.

[aleyna]

I am from Turkey. And I am deeply sorry for that visitors had through like this situation. Sometimes we even experience this things. Thanks for information I hope this help people on being careful

[biosmaniak]

I saw a taxi scam near the Galata tower. A tourist stepped out a taxi, and apparently he accidentally paid him 10 euros. The taxi driver told him he paid him 10 liras and wanted more. They got in a fight, the police came, and the tourist got his money back + a free ride. The worst part is that this happened near the Galata tower, because it literally has a metro line stopping there. The public transport takes you anywhere in Istanbul for a piss cheap price. For example, using the metro costs about 7 liras which is about $0, 40 cents... yet people pay taxis. STOP IT.

[marjsalazar]

This video saved me from a SHOE SHINE SCAM on my day 1 today here in Istanbul. Thank you so much!

[srinivassrinu]

Pro tip:- Talk in your native language if you feel not to interact with any stranger. They go away as they don't understand.

[nikitausefi]

Unfortunately, we experienced a new type of scam by a havaist's bus driver... We had three suitcases with their number tags that were handed to the bus driver, but when we were trying to get off, the driver refused to return our biggest suitcase, claiming that he couldn't find it which of course was a big lie 😒... Then after removing the tag sign of the first two suitcases, he tried to grab them back with him!! Which of course we didn't let him and started a very loud argument with him and we found our third suitcase our self 🙄... I reported his behavior to the havaist's support... I certainly hope they take care of this kind of things

[wmwjvlv]

I would say the most difficult thing for me during all the years I lived in Istanbul was the sexual harassment. As a tall, blonde, blue eyed and very Scandinavian looking woman, I was constantly followed and bothered by creeps. I could never sit on a park bench in peace, never ride the local commuter train or sit in a cafe on my own without being approached and harassed. I also had problems with male landlords and flat mates. Even men working at the supermarket would try to chat me up. It was a constant source of exhaustion, and the main reason I left.

[KK-gnnm]

I knew about taxi scams, but I had an appointment to go on Asian side. I could not find any taxi that would take me there from Fatih. I had Ubers asking where I'm going and cancelling all the time. Sometimes you get scammed, because you have no choice, but to be somewhere on time. As a female travelling alone, I don't feel confident to discuss with 2-3 men how dishonest is their price and then to take a photo of their licence plate. To go back to Fatih was a nightmare too. I had a taxi driving me for 20 minutes and suddenly driver changed direction. He said he will take me somewhere where I can change to another taxi, because it's a problem for him to go to Fatih. He took me to a highway and told me to pay him. Then progressed with trying to catch a taxi for me. Of course, I was now much further than originally. Sorry, but all taxi drivers, including Ubers and hotel organised transfers are scams. I also had hotel organising transfer for me 2x more expensive than it should be. It's atrocious and I will never be back to Istanbul alone as a woman. It is a pity, as I had a surgery in Turkey with the most amazing doctor and his team is also wonderful. But from my experience it is so rare here... Most of people I've met here lied to me, tried to or did scam me and made me feel like I'm stupid, just because I am polite and civilised. Why do we go to countries that treat tourists like shit? Never again.

[achiramihidum]

You are the only person who told everything without hiding anything!!
THANK YOU

[MuhammadAwais-ehgd]

That was reallyyy verrrryyyy useful video for those who are planning to come Istanbul for the very first time

[justus]

Thank you for all these tips. We’re in Istanbul right now. I almost fell for the shoe shine trick until my husband who was on the phone started speaking loudly at me, ” Keep going, it’s a scam!” LOL.. the shoe guy finally stopped following

[cs_yt]

I've been in many places, and apart from Japan, I have yet so see a big city where there isn't tourist scams. Some places have more than others, but the taxi, for example, is everywhere. Don't let the scams stop you from enjoying traveling. Just be vigilant, follow tips like in this video, and you will have a great time.

[indyB]

Great advice. I was in Istanbul last week. Took a cab and the driver took me to my hotel using a longer route. The bill came to 67tl… okay, I wasn’t particularly fussed by that and gave him 70. He then attempted the switch and said I had given him 2 x 10tl and a 5tl.

I laughed at him and got out of
The cab. He didn’t get out to protest with me. 👍🏼

[Nightowl]

The advice not to strike up conversations with random people when out and about in Istanbul is so important! Within minutes, strangers can act like they are your close relative, or best friend, and latch onto you like a limpit! Obviously everywhere they manage to go with you, will be at your expense!

[Turgineer]

As a Turk🇹🇷, it makes me sad that there are so many scams in Istanbul.

Tourists should try to use buses, metro and metrobus as much as possible. Google Maps will help you decide which bus to take.